Son of John and Susannah McHarg, Archibald fought in the South Carolina militia alongside his father during the American Revolution. At the time he filed for a Rev War pension in 1833, he is listed “aged about 70 years” which would put his date of birth at about 1763.
From Archibald’s pension, we know that the family was in Ninety-Six District (which became Laurens County, South Carolina) in 1781. He entered service in May 1781 (at about the age of 18) and arrived at the Siege of ’96 at Star Fort, before General Nathaniel Greene ordered the retreat. Afterwards, Archibald’s company was used for “…dispersing of Tories and guarding the frontiers against the Cherokee Indians.” Most of this tour was served at “Prince’s Fort“, which was likely the one in Wellsford, Spartanburg County since he names Spartanburg as a place of service. (There was another fort in South Carolina name “Fort Prince George” near the Keowee River.)
Archibald’s father, John, was with him during this service and they pursued the ruthless Tory, Capt. Bloody Bill Cunningham. Their pursuit of Bloody Bill would come back to haunt the McHarg Family as Archibald states that, “He and his family having been driven out from home by the Tories”. Archibald’s service was “…two weeks at a time shortly after this his father in the winter or spring of 1783 was killed by the Tories under Capt. Gray — though this Deponent was not out during that tour — & the Deponent then closed his Services.” The only battle listed with a Tory Capt. Gray is the Battle of Dutchmen’s Creek in 1781; not 1783 as Archibald thought. Pension# S33066
Archibald’s first wife was Rebecca Bolt, daughter of Robert Bolt Sr. and wife Elizabeth Weaver. His second wife was Temperance Coker.
